PN Interview: 1B Prospect Chris Duffy

First baseman Chris Duffy has been excellent this season for the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws. Through 41 games in the South Atlantic League, the 24-year-old has tallied a .373 batting average with 5 HR and 32 RBI. Additionally, the lefty hitting slugger has reached base via hit or walk in all but one of his 41 games for the BlueClaws this season.

The 26th round draft pick out of the University of Central Florida in 2010 also spent some time at Class A Advanced Clearwater this year, but after posting a .205 average with 2 HR and 9 RBI in 20 games, Duffy returned to Lakewood.

Prior to this year, the 6-foot-2-inch 210-pound Duffy posted a .281 overall batting average with 12 HR and 59 RBI in two seasons with the Gulf Coast League Phillies.

Recently, I spoke with Chris about his success in Lakewood, time spent with the Phillies’ Ryan Howard, his mental focus and plenty more. Check out the media player below to hear that full interview.

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Jay Floyd is PhilliesNation’s minor league insider. You can read more from Jay by visiting his site, PhoulBallz.com.

I don’t see how it’s a shame. There are 29 other teams out there, and other than that the Phillies are his current employer I doubt he cares which team ultimately gives him a chance. All he needs to worry about is to continue improving so that someday he either a) makes the Phillies as a bench player, or b) is traded to an organization where he can be better utilized. And that’s assuming the NL doesn’t adopt the DH before Howard’s contract ends.

I’ve talked with plenty of guys that have that mentality of “auditioning for other organizations” at all times. Surprisingly, Darin Ruf (Reading’s all-star 1st baseman) stated this year that he does NOT think that way and intends on doing his best to climb the ladder for the Phillies. Ruf says there are 29 other Double-A 1st baseman that want to make moves for those other org’s and playing for them is not ever on his mind.

I certainly don’t talk to every player about that matter, but I think Ruf is the only guy I’ve discussed that with who says it isn’t on his mind.

Matt Rizzotti was always thinking that way and even young guys like Maikel Franco & others have admitted they ponder such things fairly often.